Best gaming headsets in 2024: Budget, console, wireless & more

Joel Loynds
Best Gaming headsets

The best gaming headsets are available in various shapes and sizes. They come with a ton of features to help enhance your gaming experience. Here are some of the best cans that you can get today.

If you’re serious about gaming, nothing less than the best gaming headset should cut through your must-have lists. While gaming earbuds can be tiny and are often wireless, gaming headphones offer a no-compromise experience. You not only get the best in class audio quality, deep bass, spatial audio, and even active noise cancellation on some models. 

Here’s a list of some of the best over-the-ear headsets suited for gaming – it has been curated based on the devices we’ve reviewed with must-have features at different price points.

1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Arctis Nova 3 PS5
  • Connectivity: USB-C, 2.4ghz Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0
  • Driver diameter: 40mm
  • Frequency response: 10–22,000 Hz (Wireless), 10-40,000 Hz (Wired)
  • Weight: 338G
  • Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox (Xbox version only)
  • Price: $349.99

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is among the first gaming headsets with a premium DAC and a hot-swappable battery. The latter means you can get a virtually unlimited battery backup for an uninterrupted gaming experience.

The Nova Pro Wireless boosts the audio resolution to 96Khz/24-bit, which allows for much more detailed, high-resolution audio. Easily counted among the best premium gaming headsets, they sound premium, feel luxurious, and come with bundled software that lets you tweak the audio quality to the minutest level.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is ideal for serious gamers who want to maintain audio quality, features, and connectivity options and want fully loaded headphones.

2. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless

HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
  • Connectivity: Wireless via USB 2.0 Dongle, Detachable 3.5mm wire
  • Driver diameter: 50mm
  • Frequency response: 15hz – 21khz
  • Compatibility: PC, PlayStation,  Nintendo Switch
  • Weight: 317G
  • Price: $199

The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is the wireless version of the company’s best headphones and comes with a 300-hour-long battery life – which is way more than an average gamer might need on a single charge.

In terms of design, the bright, red-colored logo on the cans is an attention grabber – precisely how the company wanted it to be. These headsets are built like a tank and sound like a charm. In our review, we were impressed by the wide audio ranges and customization options available via the HyperX Ngenuity software and the extremely long battery life.

3. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max headset with its mic flipped down
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, USB-A dongle (2.4Ghz wireless)
  • Driver diameter: 50mm
  • Frequency response: 10–22,000 Hz (Wireless), 10-40,000 Hz (Wired)
  • Weight: 454G
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
  • Price: $149

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is a mouthful of a name, but this is a very capable gaming headphone that, unlike the products of most better-known brands, can be used across Xbox, Playstation, and PC without having to buy a dongle.

This headset lacks RGB lights, and the overall design language is a bit muted. However, the headset sounds neutral, which is excellent for playing games. There is also added support for Dolby Atmos on PC and Xbox – a fantastic addition. This headset works flawlessly across different platforms; if you dabble between multiple consoles, you’ll love this.

4. Audeze Penrose

Audeze Penrose
  • Connectivity: Wired, 2.4ghz Wireless, Bluetooth
  • Driver diameter: 100mm
  • Frequency response: 10–50KHz
  • Weight: 320G
  • Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox (Xbox version only)
  • Price: $299.00

If you prefer gaming headsets with audiophile-grade audio quality, then the Audeze Penrose is worth considering. These headsets come with patented planar magnetic drivers, which are 100mm in size. It means you’d get increased volume, bass response, an overall better audio experience, and an unmatched gaming experience.

These headphones are best suited for users who are okay with paying a bit extra for the extra-rich audio quality. However, the Penrose has average build quality and can be quite expensive.

5. Razer BlackShark V2X

Razer Blackshark V2 X USB
  • Connectivity: USB-A
  • Driver diameter: 50mm
  • Frequency response: 12 Hz to 28 kHz
  • Weight: 240G
  • Compatibility: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Mac, Xbox (mobile devices over 3.5mm)
  • Price: $59

The Razer BlackShark V2X is an affordable gaming headset. Priced below $60, these headphones pack a punch way above their weight. While you can’t call them the best of the lot, and they don’t pack fancy features, these headphones offer superior performance, ticking almost all the boxes you’d be worried about.

The headphones offer 7.1 audio support for an immersive gaming experience. In our review, we found these headphones have a super lightweight frame and offer decent sound quality. It is ideally suited for people looking for an excellent middle-ground option for budget-conscious users.

6. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2
  • Connectivity: 3.5 mm wired
  • Driver diameter:
  • Frequency response: 10 Hz –28 kHz
  • Weight: 275G
  • Compatibility: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Mac, Xbox (mobile devices over 3.5mm)
  • Price: $49.99

Yet another budget gaming headphone that looks premium sounds better than average and can be paired with any device that sports a 3.5mm headphone jack. Our review found that the HyperX’s budget headset, Cloud Stinger 2, doesn’t overpower your brain with super heavy bass, while the highs are whole-heartedly enjoyable. We’ve listened to a fair bit of music with them and never felt like we were being let down.

It is ideal for users who love to alternate between various consoles and PCs. While the no-frills audio quality is better than most, it cannot be considered the best – however, it does get the job done comfortably.

7. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3

Arctis Nova 1 SteelSeries
  • Connectivity: Wired 3.5mm jack cable, USB-C
  • Driver diameter: 44mm
  • Frequency response: 20 to 22,000Hz
  • Weight: 253g
  • Compatibility: Anything with a 3.5mm Analog jack
  • Price: $99.99

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 is an ideal headphone for people with a tighter budget. At a price point just shy of $100, the Nova 3 looks like its pricier siblings and produces excellent audio for its price range.

While the biggest drawback of this headset is that it doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity, SteelSeries has cut corners on the connectivity end to shave off the price. Yet, it is ideal for people who still rely on a 3.5mm jack, making these headphones a universal appeal.

What to consider before buying a gaming headset

Ensuring your gaming setup is paired with the right pair of gaming headphones to suit your needs is important. If you find yourself spending hours playing the latest FPS with friends, or just like to immersive yourself in your favorite game’s audio, you’ll need a headset that not only provides high-clairty audio but is comfortable to wear for long periods at a time.

With that in mind, here are a few vital things to consider before you pick up a new pair of gaming headphones.

Wired or wireless

Wired gaming headsets tend to be more affordable, being great options for those with a budget. Better yet, they don’t require charging so you don’t have to worry about the battery life and can focus on whatever you’re playing instead. However, with a wired connection, you are more limited in your movement and are at the mercy of the length of the wired connection any given headset provides.

Wireless headsets give you more freedom, allowing you to move around as you see fit without the pressure of snagging your wire on another valuable part of your gaming setup. Most wireless gaming headsets tend to connect over a 2.4GHz radio frequency which is more than suitable for gaming.

Overall, wireless headsets typically tend to be more expensive and involve varying amounts of charging to keep going. However, a lot of modern wireless headsets make use of fast-charing, to provide an optimum amount of hours of playback with a minimal charge, if you’re ever in need.

Comfort

With gaming headsets being placed on top of your head, comfort is key. Unlike gaming earbuds that can snuggly fit inside your ears, headsets place force upon the top of your noggin’, sometimes for hours at a time. A lot of headsets will have additional foam padding or cushioning on the headband, to avoid any possible discomfort.

Some headsets also offer uniquely designed ear cushions, to avoid any unwanted aches and pains in your ears. Or have levels of adjustment, as to fit any head shape and size. What kind of padding you prefer on a gaming headset is up to you, with many brands offering a myriad of cushioning and fabric types to suit everyone’s needs.

Is the headset compatible with your device?

There’s no point in buying a high-quality gaming headset if you can’t even use it.

Not all gaming headsets are compatible with every console, or handheld you want to use them for. So ensuring the headset you want is compatible with the device of your choosing, whether that’s the PlayStation 5 or PC, is a necessity. Most gaming headsets will state clearly on their specs or even their box art, what consoles and devices they’re compatible with.

Audio quality

Arguably the most important factor when it comes to a gaming headset is the audio quality. While high-clarity and rich audio is important in headphones for everyday use, for gaming it’s of an even higher importance.

With games, and especially with first-person shooters, you’ll regularly need to know exactly where sound is originating from at any given time. Being able to pinpoint exactly where footsteps, bullets, and a myriad of sound effects are coming from is what can give you the one-up on your enemies, and help towards immersion.

A good gaming headset will provide crisp audio, with some even giving you a selection of EQ presets and options to pick from to tailor the audio experience to your liking.

Also, make sure to check out our other guides:

The best PS5 controllers | The best mobile games to play in 2023 | Best gaming keyboards | Best CPU for gaming | Best PC controller | Best budget gaming desk | Best power bank for steam deck | Best 1440p Monitor for PS5 | Best gamecube controller for Switch and PC

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About The Author

E-Commerce Editor. You can get in touch with him over email: joel.loynds@dexerto.com. He's written extensively about video games and tech for over a decade for various sites. Previously seen on Scan, WePC, PCGuide, Eurogamer, Digital Foundry and Metro.co.uk. A deep love for old tech, bad games and even jankier MTG decks.